Web feeding mechanism



sept. 26, 1944.

.w. F.' HucK- WEB FEEDING vMECI'INISM 5 sheets-sheet 1 EiIed'Jan. 18, 1943 Ill n# v ANO vmv, wm. 0

-INVENTOR a@ 7'. m BY ATT NEY Sept. 26, 1944. w. F. HucK WEB FEEDING MEcHANIsM Filled .1amj 18, '1943 5 sheets-shan:

ATT NEY Sept. 26, 1944. w HUCK 2,358,928

WEB FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1945 5 sheets-sheet 5,

/ Z9 aNvENl-'OR l /76 '4am 7.914* v BY 2 #4a J ATT RNEY Patented sept.26,1944 Y f L 2,358,928V

2,358,928 WEBFEEDING ivrlioHANIsMv William v E. Huck;, Riclimvond- Hill; N; Y., a'ss'ignor: to Re H0ef&, Got, 111e., NewtY'or'kLN: Y., a-corv poration `of New York ApplicationfJanuary- 18, 194,3, Serial No. 472,688

sofoletime.A` tollem-e3 ThisY invention relates" toa driving'mechanism t'hefgturning"v harsl may; be A`considierably'y relieved' adaptedl to drive forwarding rollers in a rotary'-1 andtereby-'avoid' excessiveiri'ction" between the webl printing machine, to propelA theweb'irom Weband'-theturningbars:

UNITED ljlx'rEN-T `olf-Flei-:i

anism: having a delivery; andsi'milarJ applieaf-Vu 5i impfoved" driving"v mechanism forvveb propelling' tions' whenever av web or 'thetlike isoperate'd upon` QI forwarding' rO'lIeFs'uSedL in" a" rotary' Web' prtl' byecomponents of a, machine; ng-A machine, wherein' theY Web is" f'ol'w'aldd Exemplincaticns of`- theinvention are-herein throiisliapluralitif'0f"lomponerits'in'cl'udiigwb' e' shown in connection' with'printingmachinesfor t'nln'in'fg'4 l'nechanisrn.-` J producing newspapers; magazines` and similar 10 Another-'object of theinve'ntion is t'oL provide' products wherein one` or" more Webs areh forna Webmririting" n'lachiriel having" Wel vslitting Walded through a printing' unit 'ocra ioldin'g; r'ollrs'toslt hewe'b lnto ribbons'aite'r printing; mechanism and duringn their travel'l certain ofi a mechanism to insure a substantially'equ'al'tenthe Webs or portionslof-themare passewaround SOH'OYrtlieSfbbOnS'attlitrgiolls turning mechanisms*which*may-'invertthewels'15" lnothe1"obje'ct of the invention isto"provide" archange their paths of' travel-asmay-leienecesinal multiple web printing machine, mechanism sary in ordertoproduce desiredproducts.' *30"il1dper1dei1t1yvaiy 1711 DSH'SOI 0`I1AY ffy Oe Itfis customary'to provide;drivenollrsialdont of the webs in order to maintain" the desired which the Webs are l'edvtoepull them"through"'th""e"y Y proportionate tensior'i"'ltietweerrv thew'ebs" asthey machine, and Vin ordertto maintain the'webs taut;V 20" bjveiL-froin the printing? units `t0' be assembled theserollers are usually driven at a peripheral; at a. folderor'otlfei'jmechanismfroln'whichthey" speed slightly higher thanth'e'speedioffteMweld BJIBIPSJSSedWO" adelviy.'

This necessitates a" small slippage) between the A e Anotherobjct oij thei'invention'istdplvde' rollers and the'V Webs; and` produces-tensionon'" infarweb'prritigmachine 'improvedjrne'ansto thewebs thatcreates frictionwhereverfa webI 251k Vary the propelling force of the 'Webforwarding' passes around turning bars of'a' web ti'irnir'rg,A roll'r`s-vvhiletthe"machine'iisrunning.

mechanism. Where'a-webmis"cutintohtwojlilff-e Arothe'robject ofthe invention is"to"'provde" sections or ribbons,- andone'v oi" theseribbon'sis." in a Wfb Plfntng machine; Ilen'tbf'valyithe' carried through the machine withoutl being" propellings'forcefof'Webforwarding'rollers'inadturning bars to alignt'withthe'-otheriribrori; whereby theftensionofthe,Webforwardedthere; the resistance to the travel-of"the Webitliatiis th'ough'lfwill be decreased:

turned' is yconsiderably greater'thanthe'resistanoe 5110131161" Object 0itHeinventiorlis to" providev to the travel ofthe web that is notturned' In' nvatweb printingmachne, having'mearrs'tovaiif" it is,v slit and also atetner `pointe-iattsztrewel;A er1-isili:- meansA wh'reby thev portion" ofthwekil especially where it Visassembled with; otherV wett atthetrninsfmephanim is' aiitmaiillv'mairrf atethe folder- This di'culty(32mA be overcome; tai-ned'at a):predeterminedtension that is `lower however, by the .use vof mechansm-mavdfi'ace Y 401thanthetension'elsewhere throughout'itstravel' cordance-With theA invention.' l f through the'lm'achine I y n Another difficulty thaty may'Y be overcomeiby' e Itis-also fan object iofk this inventionito prcvhle similar corrective action-arises inscrire-'printing availablefre'diivilgme'hansmIWMHQ that*Will-'inaintainthe'Web' taut While theetnf I beingiun'derstood'tliat. 'various changes inth'e' sion on a portion vof thef'welo at' andJ adjacent '55" preeisefemloidiment ofitheinventi'onfhereiii 'clis-- closed may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- 1n:

Figure l shows a diagrammatic arrangement of a portion of a. rotary web printing machine in which the features and principles of this invention are embodied;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a roller adjusting device adapted for use with the web forwarding mechanism of the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional View `through a roller adjusting device adapted for use with the web forwarding mechanism, and which is adapted for operation t adjust the roller while the printing machine is running; Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged end view of a plurality of roller adjusting devices of the form shown in Figure 3 as they would appear when applied to a printing machine of the form shown in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic arrangement of a portion of a somewhat different form of rotary web printing machine in which the features and principles of this invention may be embodied;

Figure 6 is a top plan View of a web turning mechanism adapted for use with the printing machine shown in Figure 5 and showing means toI adjust the web forwarding rollers thereof;

Figure 7 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Figure 6 looking in the direction of arrows 7 1 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view through a roller driving means and taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a schematic view of an arrangement whereby a floating roller, running in a loop of the web, controls a roller adjusting device;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line II of Figure 10, of a roller adjusting device and means actuatedby the floating roller to control the same; and

Figure 12 is a modied arrangement whereby a floating roller controls the propelling force of a web forwarding roller.

The printing machine diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 1 includes printing units vII and I2, each having a pair of plate cylinders I3 and i4 and impression cylinders I5 and I6, adapted to print impressions upon webs I1 and I8 respectively. One, or more, additional printing units may be included in the press structure and adapted to print upon a web, or webs, I9. The printed webs I1, I 8 and I9 are led from the printing units over guide rollers 2|, 22 and 23 respectively to web slitting mechanisms including slitting rollers 24, 25, and 26, with cooperating slitting wheels 24', 25 and 26 respectively, whereby the webs are slit lengthwise into two, or more, ribbons, as desired. In the machine illustrated in Figure 1, each of the webs I1, I8 and I9 are slit into two ribbons |1a|1b, I Ba-Ib, and 19a-|912 respectively. The ribbons I1a, |8a and |9a are led about guide rollers 21 to web forwarding rollers 34, 36 and 38 respectively, and the ribbons |1b, |812, and |91) are led through web turning mechanism 28, 29 and 3| respectively, to bring them into alignment with the ribbons and ISG. They are then led about guide rollers 32 to web forwarding rollers 33, 35 and 31 respectively. Other ribbons 39 which may have acted, this friction of the ribbons in the web turn.

' In this arrangement, a hub screw-threaded on the by the usual arrangement of shafts and gearing connecting with the main shaft of the machine (not shown). With this arrangement, the slitting rollers are usually driven at a peripheral speed slightly higher than the web speed and act as web forwarding rollers. However, in certain classes of work, at least, it has been found that it is unnecessary to drive the slitting rollers because satisfactory control of the ribbons may be obtained by means of the novel driving mechanism for forwarding rollers, herein disclosed.

It will be understood that the ribbons |119, Iband |96 that are led through the web turning mechanisms, require a greater pull than do those led directly to the web guiding roller 21 from the slitting rollers 24, 25, and 26, due to the friction o f the ribbons on the web turning bars included in the web turning mechanism. If not countering mechanism will produce unequal tension on the ribbons as they leave the slitting rollers 24, 25 and 26 and cause unsatisfactory slitting and in 3gp some instances tearing of the web.

The mechanism herein shown for driving the web forwarding rollers 33-38 inclusive and 4 |46 inclusive so that they may produce the desired propelling force on each ribbon includes V- grooved pulleys 49 (Figure 2), one keyed to the shaft 5| of each roller 33-38, shaft of the drag roller 41. These pulleys are preferably each adjustable to vary its eective diameter where the pulley is engaged by a belt 52.

4|-46 and to the and led over the adjustable pulley 49 on the shaft 5| of the drag roller 41 (Figure 1) which is driven by a suitable connection (not shown) with the folding mechanism. From the pulley of the drag roller 41, the belt 52 is led about a belt tightening pulley 54 and then in succession about the adjustable pulleys of the rol1ers,33 to 38 and 4| to 46 inclusive; but in passing from each pulley to the next in the group, the belt is led about an idler pulley 53. From the pulley of the roller 46 the beltl runs to the pulley of the drag roller 41, completing the circuit.

Adjustment of each pulley 49 (Figure 2) to vary they diameter of its belt engaging face, is effected by changing the spacing, between sidef flanges 55 and 56, which extend from hubs 51 and 58 respectively. 'Ihe hub 51 that carries the flange 55 is secured to the roller shaft 5| by a key 59 lwhile the hub 58 that carries -thev flange 56 is hub 51, and thus the flange 56 may be moved toward or away from the flange 55 and vary the effective diameter of the pulley at its point of engagement 6| with the belt 52. A set screw 62 may be provided in the hub 58 4to seat against the hub 51 and lock the pulley flanges in their adjusted positions. Wrench holes 63 are also provided to facilitate rotation of the hub 58 upon the hub 51 in adjusting the pulley 49.

lAn adjustable grooved pulley of modified form which permits adjustments to be made while the machine is running, is shown in Figures 3 and 4. v64 ythat carries a flange 55a is keyed to a roller shaft 5|a Vby a key been printed by other printing units (not shown) 65 and `a hub 66 that carries ay flange 56a is slip.

keyed toV the yhub t4'Y by a key 6.1 fixedy in' 4the hub The stud 13` is. provided withv a threaded portion 16, intermediate its ends, upon which an internally threaded worm-wheel 11 rides, and. when rotated, moves the stud 13 axially.

A Worm gear 18 (Figure` 4)', arranged to c0- anism. |98 (Figure 6),V whereinv the web is led successively about a turning bar |01, an inverting roller |108, and aturning bar |09, whence it is led about forwarding roller and guide rollers ||2 to present .the unprintedl side of the web to the form cylinder of the printing unit 93. After leaving' the printingv unit 93 the web |02., now printed on both sides, is led about rollers |3 to the drag. roller 99 where it meets theweb 91 and both are. received by thev folding mechanism I0 I.

The'. drag roller 99 and rollers in the folding t mechanism l0 aredriven slightly faster than the operate with the worm-wheel is secured to a shaft. 19, that is extended downwardly and provided at its remote end 8| witha handwheel 82 by which it may be rotated.v

Rotation of the handwheel 82 in one direction will thus act through the shaft 8|, worm-gear 18, worm-wheel 11 and stud 13, to move the hub 6B, and the flange 56a toward the flange 55a and increase the effective diameter of the pulley 49a, while rotation. of the handwheel 82 in the opposite direction will permit separation of the ange 56a from the flange 55a by the pressure of the belt 52 .with consequent decrease. in the l effective diameter of the pulley,

I-t will be seen that with the equipment shown in Figure l, the speed of each of the `web forwarding rollers 33 to 38 and 4| to 48 inclusive may be varied as desired. The rollers 33, 35 and 31, which propel ribbons that are carried around turning bars, may be driven at a higher speed than the rollers 34, 36 and 38, whichA carry ribbons having less resistance Ito overcome. Thus the rollers 33, 35 and 31, may be adjusted to im. pose sufficient additional pull on the turned ri-b' bons, to counteract the frictional resistance at the turning bars, vand maintain equal pull on, the ribbons .cut from each web as they leave the slit-v ting roller, and Yequalize the tension onall the ribbons as they approach the drag roller 41 at the folder. By the use of equipment so arranged, it

is unnecessary to provide means for driving the slitting mechanism. of machines for printing products, because an even tension is assured at all points widthwise of the webrwhile it is being slit, andinaccurate slitting or tearingA of the web isavoided. If desired, an ordinary V-grooved pulley may be substituted for the adjustable pulley 49'on the shaft of the drag roller 41, but the use.

of any adjustable pulley at this point makes it possiblev toV ,simultaneouslyV increase or decrease the speed of all Yof the web forwarding rollers merely by adjusting the pulley of .the drag roller In Figure 5 a portionof a rotary intaglio Web printing machine is illustrated and shows print- 'ing unitsI 9|,

92 and 93 each having anv intaglio form cylinder 94, with a cooperating impression roller 95 engaged by a pair of pressure back-up cylinders. The printing unit 9| is shown printing animpressionon a web 91fthatmay have' previously been printed on one or both sides by other printing units (not shown). the web 91 is led about guideK4 rollers 98 to and over a web forwarding. roller .|00 and thence. by guiderollers 98. to a drag roller 9'9 vassociated with a folding mechanism |l|]|.. Another web |02 is led about guide rollers |03 tdtheprinting unit 92,. where an impression is printed on one side, and it is then Ied about guide rollers |04 `and a web forwarding roller |05 to a'web turning mech- From the unit 91|,

speed: of the web to insure that any slackness in theV webs" at the time of starting the machine will be taken up, and thewebs will thereafter be held taut', .to insure their proper register with each otherancl for action thereon by the folding mech-` anism|0 As a result of this tautness in the web, it is drawn quite tightly about the turning bars of the web turning mechanism |08. On rotogravure machines, and especially where the webs are wide, this friction frequently results in'smutting of the. ink and otherv difficulties in connection with the forwarding of the web. In Figure 6, means are shown for driving the web forwarding rollers |05 and in such manner that the tension on the portion of the web between these rollers and passing through the turning mechanism |08, will be substantially reduced and the friction between it` and the turning bars'f'greatly relieved.

The web forwarding roller |05 and the'web forwarding roller are driven through belts ||4 and ||5 respectively from a connection with a common drive shaft ||8 by means of adjustable The belt I'I4j, included in the drivefor the webk forwarding roller |05, is led about the adjustable pulleys 1 and v|22,the latter beingsecured to a cross-shaft |23 having a driving connection with the common drive shaft H6V through bevel gears |24 and |25.

The belt H5, included in the drive for the web forwarding roller is led` about the adjustable pulley IIB, and an adjustable pulley |25 that is secured to a jack shafty |21 which has yav driving connection with the common. drive shaft H6, through bevel gears |728 and |29. The belt ||9, included in the drive for the web inverting roller |08, is led about the adjustable pulley |2| and an adjustable pulley |3| which. is secured to the cross-shaft |23. The adjustable pulley |2|y is connected to aljack shaft |32 which inv turn isA drivingly connected to the shaft |33 of the in-v` forwarding rollers to cause smutting it is prefer.

able. to use adjustable pulleys of the form shown in Figures 8 and V9 wherein an adjustable frictionV clutch is built into the structure, thereby providing' an adjustable torque variable speed driving device. YThe `friction vclutch allows slippage be'- tween the web forwarding rollers and their driving means and thereby eliminates objectionable portion slippage between the web and the forwarding rollers. f

This combined adjustable pulley and friction clutch, herein called a clutch pulley, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, includes an adjustable pulley 48D, similar to those shown in Figures 2 and 3, and having side flanges 55h and 56h provided with hub portions 64b and 66h respectively, which are prevented from relative rotation, though permitted relative axial motion by a key 61h, secured to the hub 64b and cooperating with a key slot 68D in the hub 66h. A ball thrust bearing 691) is mounted on the hub 66h. The ball thrust bearing is adapted to be engaged by a forked lever |40 pivoted by a pin |4| to a bracket |42 secured to a machine frame member |43. An elongated threaded stud |44 engages the forked lever |40, and extends through the frame |43 intoa bracket |45. The stud .|44 is moved longitudinally by mechanism substantially the same as that shown in Figure 3, including an internally threaded worm-wheel |46, which engages the thread on the stud and is arranged to be rotated by a wormgear |41 carried by a rod |48 having a handwheel |49 at its lower end.

The hubs 64b of the clutch pulleys associated with the rollers and and with the'jack shaft |32 are not keyed to their shafts, but are rotatably mounted upon a hub portion V|5| of a clutch disc |52 which is keyed to the respective roller shaft or jack shaft by a key |53. The clutch disc |52 is arranged to be engaged by the pulley flange 55h when the latter is moved axially on the hub |5| toward it. Means for pressing the pulley flange 5513 into engagement with the disc |52 includes a flat spring ring |54 slidably mounted on the hub portion |5| with its inner edge in engagement with an end |55 of the hub 64b. The outer edge of the spring ring |54 is engaged by a flange |56 on an operating sleeve |51 slidably mounted on the respective roller shaft or jack shaft. The flange |56, preferably forms one plate of a ball thrust bearing 58 adapted to be engaged by a forked lever I 59 whichA is pivoted by a pin |6| to the bracket |42.

A stud |62 engages the forked lever |59 to press it against the thrust bearing |58 and through the spring ring |54 to resiliently force 'to the operation of these machines.

when rthe web turning and` inverting mechanism shown is employed as depicted in Figure 5, friction between the web and the turning bars may be considerably reduced. The web is drawn through the printing units and to the drag roller 99 under considerable tension, because of the pull imposed thereon by that roller. Were it not for the clutch pulleys through which the rollers |05, |68 and are driven, a heavy friction would result between the web and the turning bars |01 and |09, but by adjusting the pulley on the roller |05 to produce a strong forward pull or drag on the web, and the roller |08, to produce substantially less drag, the friction of the web as it passes over the turning bar |01 may be very materially reduced. Then by adjusting the clutch pulley associated with the roller to produce still less drag on the web than that caused by the roller |08, it is possible to reduce the friction between the weband the turning bar |09. This reduction of the pressure of the web on the turning bars reduces the tendency to smutting of the ink, and simplifies the ink drying problem that is incident While adjustable ,pulleys are herein shown for variably driving the roller |08, it is not always necessary to drive this roller, for in many cases the friction between the web and the turning bars can be sufficiently reduced by the use of adjustable pulleys on the rollers |05 and only.

The adjustable pulleys, shown in Figures 2 and 3, may be employed in the` arrangement shown in Figure 6, if the .friction clutch feature is not required. In such cases, the pulleys may be adjusted to drive the rollers potentially at the speeds necessary to maintain the desired reduced friction between the web and the turning bars but allowing the belts to slip, so that there is no slippage between the rollers and the web. Alternatively, the pulleys may be adjusted to positively drive the rollers at the required speed and depend on slippage between the rollers and the web in cases where such slippage would not cause the pulley flange 55h into engagement with the clutch disc 52 to effect a driving connection from the adjustable pulley to the respective roller shaft or jack shaft. As in arrangement shown in Figure 3, the stud |62 is extended through the frame |43 into the bracket |45 and has a threaded |63 cooperating with an internally threaded worm-wheel |64, which is arranged to be rotated by a worm-gear |65 carried by a rod |66 having a handwheel |61 at its lower end. Rotation of the handwheel |61 in the proper direction causes the forked lever |59 acting through the spring ring |54 to press the pulley flange 55h against the clutch disc |52 and to vary the pressure as desired. Both of the studs |44 and |62 are slide-keyed to the bracket |45, as in the form shown in Figure 3, to prevent rotation.

If adjustability of the clutches, while the machine is running, is not required, simplication can obviously be effected by substituting a nut screw-threaded on each of the respective shafts and bearing against the sleeve |51 for the handwheels |61 and their connections to and including the thrust bearings |58.

With the equipment shown in Figure 6, the driving torque and potential speed of each of the rollers |05, |08 and may be adjusted so that smutting.

It will be understood that clutch pulleys as shown in Figure 8 may be substituted for the simpler form of adjustable pulley described in connection with the machine shown in Figure 1, and that these clutch pulleys may also be ernployed advantageously to drive any web forwarding rollers such as the slitting rollers 24, 25 and 26 (Figure 1), because they may be driven at a higher speed than the speed of the web and the friction clutch can be adjusted to provide only the necessary propelling force to keep the web taut, so there need be no slippage between the web and the roller, such slippage as is required, taking place between the roller and the means employed to drive it.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 10 and 11, one of the roller adjusting devices is controlled by a floating roller running in a loop in the web. With the parts disposed as shown, this arrangement is adapted for application t0 the mechanism shown in Figures 6 and 7 and hence applicable to the press shown in Figure 5. In Figure 10, the roller |05a corresponds with the roller |05 in Figures 5 ,and 6.

A floating roller |1| is carried by arms |12 which are secured to a rotatably supported shaft |13. A weight |14 is adjustably secured to a rod |15 projecting from a hub on an arm 12. `A link |16 is pivotally secured at one end to the said arm 12 and at the other end to an arm |11, extending from the hub of efface-cam |18,

secured to a .shaft |1811 (Figure 11.) rotatably supported in a bracket 14a corresponding .to :the bracket 14 of Figure Y3. `The lface of the cam |18 engages the head Yof a plunger 15a vslidably supported in the bracket 14a and engaging a' forked lever 10a, corresponding lto the forked lever 10 of the mechanism illustratedin Figure 3,

to vary the eirective diameter of the adjustable pulley Illa, which corresponds with the Vpulley I`I1 shown in Figure .6. In this instance the pulley |22a, shaft |23a, and the belt IIlIacorrespond with the pulley |22, yshaft |32, and fbelt II4 shown in Figure 6. The web '|02 iis yled over a roller |10, then around the floating roller v'|`1|, and then over the roller III-5a. Other elements and parts shown in Figure `l1 correspond inform and operation with those shown vin Figure 13 land therefore have the same reference numerals.

' Variation in the tension of the web |02 causes the roller I1| to rise or fall, thus moving the arm |12, link |16, and the face-cam |18, which latter acts on the plunger 15a to cause the forked lever 10a to vary the effective diameter loi" "the pulley II1a. It is obvious that if desired, the automatic control arrangement shown in'Figures l and l1 can be applied to the means 'for regulating the pressure of the pulley flange 55h against the clutch disc |52 shown in Figure 8.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 12, slippage of the belt ||4a on the pulleys ||1a yand I22a is varied by means of a floating ,roller IIBI running in a loop in the web |02. The roller I8| is carried on arms |02 which are secured to a rotatably supported shaft |83. A Weight |84 is adjustably secured to la rod |85 extending from'a hub on an arm |82. Another arm |86,

extending from the hub on the said arm |82 hasA a belt tightening roller |81 journaled in its upper end and in running engagement with the belt Ilda to vary its pressure on the pulleys |'I1a and I22a. The web |02 is led over a'roller |80, carried on a shaft |10a then around the floating roller I8I, and then over the roller I05a, corresponding to the roller in Figure 6. It will be seen that an increase in web tension willraise the roller IBI and press the roller |81 against the belt II4a thereby increasing the speed of the roller |80 and feeding the web enough faster to relieve the tension. Y

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specic forms Without .departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that vthe present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of 'theinvention- What I claim is:

l. In a web printing machine, the combination of a plurality of printing units each arranged to print a web, a web forwarding roller in the path of each web and arranged to propel it from the printing unit toward a drag roller acting on all of the webs, and a variable speed driving ,device for each of the forwarding rollers, whereby tension on each of the several webs being propelled toward the drag roller may be separately adjusted. 2. In a web printing machine having a pr;int

ing unit, a folder and web slitting and turning means in the path of the web between the print- Y ing unit and the folder to slit the web into ribbons and turn one of the said ribbons to superimpose it over another ribbon, a web ,forwarding roller in the path of each ribbon between the,

lturning means and the folder, and variable speed driving mean-s for each web Lforwarding roller; whereby a roller ypropelling a turned and superimposed ribbon rnay be .driven for a higher potential ,speed than a ,roller propelling a ribbon that .is :not turned, and thereby impose substantially the `same pulling force on each edge of the web as .it is lpresented vtothe slitting means.

3. Ina web printingmach-ineha-ving a printing unit, a folder, web slitting means to slit `'the Vweb into ribbons, and web guidingvmeansto guide the ribbons to the folder through separate paths differing in resistance, ',a web V,forwarding roller in the path of each ribbon :and variable `speed driving means for each ofthe said Aweb forwardingrollers, whereby a Yroller propelling -a ribbon led Ythrough 1a pat-h having high 'resistance may be driven for a higher potential speed than a roller `propelling a ribbon ythat is `led through Ya pat-h of -low resistance, and thereby impose substantially the same pulling Iforce fon each .edgeV of the web 'as itis presented to the slitting rneans.

4. In a web printing machine, the combination of la plurality of lpri-nting couples `and a folder, means to forward-a "web printed -by la -first printv ingcouple to fa web -turfnl-ng mechanism, thence to -asecond vprinting couple, and thence to a :folder having Fa drag roller, the said turning mechanisrn including a rst web :forwarding roller, a first web turning bar, :an inverting roller, la second web .turning bar, .and a second web forwardingroller.; with `a variable speed device -for driving .each web :forwarding roller, whereby the first web forwarding roller maybe driven :at `a speed potentially faster .than web speed, and Ythe second web forwarding roller may :be :driven vat a potentially slower speed, -to thereby relieve tension on the ,portion of the webfpassingvaround the turning bars.

V5,. .In a web printing machine, Va plurali-ty -of printing each .arranged to pri-nt upon a web, a ,drag roller Aacting on all -of the webs, na web forwarding .roller :adapted `to .act upon -each web to forward it from a printing unit toward the drag roller, Aand aseparately adjustable variable speed driving .devioefor each of .the Webforwarding rollers. f

6. In a web printing machine having a plurality of printing units `each .arranged to print -u-pon a web and means to slit ,a ,web into ribbonsl after it .has been printed, ard-rag ,roller acting on all ofl the ribbons formed `by ,the said slitting means, a

web forwarding 4roller adapted to act upon each ribbon .to propelit `from the slitting means toward the :drag roller, and a variable torque driving de' Y vice for keach `of :the forwarding rollers.

rality of printing units 4each arranged to print upon la web, means to slit'the web into ribbons after it has fbeen printed, .and means ,to turn one of the ribbons, a web forwarding roller following the slitting :means to act on an Junturned ribbon to `forward it `from the slitting means, a web forwarding lroller following `ithe web turning means to .act on aturned web ribbon 4to forward it fromsrthe turning means, Vand a-vvariable speed driving device for :each-of ltheforwarding rollers. V

9. In aweb printing machine having a first printing unit arranged to print upon one side of a web, a second printing unit arranged to print upon the opposite side of the web, a web turning device between the printing units, a drag roller acting on the web and following the second print ing unit, a web forwarding roller preceding the web turning device, a web forwarding roller following the web turning device, and an adjustable torque variable speed driving device for each of the web forwarding rollers. y

10. In a web printing machine having a first printing unit arranged to print upon one side of a web, a, second printing unit arranged to print upon the opposite side of the web, a web turning device between the printing units, a web forwarding roller preceding the web turning device, a web forwarding roller following the web turningy device, and a separately adjustable driving device for each of the web forwarding rollers to drive it at a potential speed different from the speed of the web, and of the other web forwarding roller.

11. In a, web printing machine having a rst printing unit arranged to print upon one side of a web, a second printing unit arranged to print upon the opposite side of the web, a web turning device between said printing units, said web turning device including web turning bars and an inverting roller between the turning bars, a web forwarding roller preceding theweb turning bars, a web forwarding roller following the web turning bars, and anadjustable speed variable torque driving device for each of the web forwarding rollers and for the inverting roller.

12. In a web printing machine having a first printing unit arranged to print upon one side of a web, a second printing unit arranged to print upon the other side of the web, a web turning device between said printing units, a, drag roller acting on a plurality of webs and following the second printing unit, the web turning device including web turning bars and a webinverting roller between the turning bars, a web forwarding roller preceding the web turning bars, a web forwarding roller following theweb turning bars, and an adjustable speed variable torque driving device for each of the web forwarding rollers, for the outside roller, and for thedrag roller.V

13. In a web printing machine having a printing unit, a folder, a web slitting and a web turn ing means between the printing unit and the folder to slit the web into ribbons and turn a rst ribbon to superimpose it over a second ribbon that is not turned, a web forwarding roller to act on each of the ribbons, driving means for each of the ribbon forwarding rollers, and means to adjust the driving torque applied to each forwarding roller to vary the tension on the web ribbon forwarded thereby.

14. In a web printing machine having a printing unit, a folder, a web slitting and a web turning means between the printing unit and the folder to slit the web into ribbons and turn a first ribbon to superimpose it over a second ribbon that is not turned, a web forwarding roller to act on each of the ribbons between the turning means and the folder, a drag roller arranged to act on all of the ribbons and disposed between the forwarding rollers and the folder, a first driving means for each of the ribbon forwarding rollers, a second driving means for the drag roller, means to adjust the driving torque applied to each forwarding roller to vary the tension on the ribbon forwarded thereby, and means to ad-V just the driving torque applied to the drag roller to simultaneously vary the tension on all of the ribbons acted on by the drag roller.

15. In a web printing machine, a plurality of printing units each arranged to print upon a web, a drag roller acting on all of the webs, a web forwarding roller adapted to act upon each web to propel Yit from the printing unit toward the drag roller, a variable speed driving device for each of the web forwarding rollers, and each of the driving devices including cooperating adjustable V-grooved pulleys, and means to vary the effective diameter of each of the pulleys.

1 6. In a web printing machine, a plurality of printing units each arranged to print upon a web, a Vdrag'roller common to all of the webs, a web forwarding roller adapted to act upon each web to propel it from the printing unit toward the drag roller, an adjustable speed variable torque driving device for each of the web forwarding rollers and for the drag roller, each of the driving devices including cooperating adjustable vgrooved pulleys, means to vary the effective diameter of each of said pulleys, a friction clutch between each of the pulleys and the roller driven thereby,'and means to adjust the effective friction of each clutch.

1'7. In a web printing machine, a plurality of printing units each arranged to print on a web, a web forwarding roller in the path of each web and arranged to impose a pulling force thereon to propel it from the printing unit toward a drag roller acting on all of the webs, and an adjustable torque driving device for one of the web forwarding rollers, whereby the pulling force imposed on the web by the said one roller may be adjusted toa different value from the pulling force imposed on a web by another forwarding roller.

18. In a web printing machine, a web propeL ling roller, a pulley, a driving belt enga-ging the pulley, means for varying the effective diameter Y, of the pulley over the area engaged by the belt,

and an adjustable friction clutch interposed between the roller and the pulley, whereby the roller may be driven for a speed potentially different from the speed of the web and the clutch may be adjusted to maintain a desired pulling force of the roller on the web while permitting the roller to run at web speed.

19. In a web printing machine, a web propelling roller, a pulley, a driving belt engaging the pulley, adjusting means for varying the effective diameter of the pulley over the area engaged by the belt, a friction clutch interposed between the vroller and the pulley, and adjusting means for the clutch, whereby the roller may be driven for a speed potentially different from the speed of the web and the clutch may be adjusted to maintain a desired. pulling force of the roller on the web while permitting the roller to run at web speed; one of the said adjusting means being operable while the machine is running.

20. In a web printing machine having a web turning device arranged to turn a web during its traveluthrough the machine to position its under side uppermost, a web propelling roller having a variable speed driving device and positioned to feed the web toward the turning device, a floating, roller rotatably held in a movable member and running in a loop in the web between the web propelling roller and the turning device, and means connecting the movable member with the variable speed driving device, whereby variation inthe tension of the web at the turning device will control the speed of the web propelling roller.

2l. In a web printing machine having a web turning device arranged to turn a web during its travel through the machine to reverse the relative positions of its opposite sides, a web propel- Y ling roller having a variable torque driving device and positioned to feed the web toward the turning device, a floating roller rotatably held in a movable member and running in a loop in the web between the web propelling roller and the turning device, and means connecting the movable member with the variable torque driving device, whereby variation in the tension of the web at the turning device will vary the torque imposed on the web propelling roller.

22. In a web printing machine having a web turning device arranged to turn a web running through the machine to reverse the relative 1D0- sitions of its opposite sides, a web propelling roller having a driving pulley and positioned to feed the web toward the turning device, a second pulley driven in timed relation with the machine, a belt operably connecting the pulleys, rst means to vary the effective diameter of one of the pulleys, a oating roller carried on a movable member and supported by the web between the web propelling roller and the turning device, and second means connecting the movable member with the first means, whereby variation in the tension of the web at the turning device will vary the speed of the web propelling roller.

23. In a web printing machine having a web turning device arranged to turn a web running through the` machine to position its under side uppermost, a web propelling roller positioned to feed the web toward the turning device, a pulley having a clutch to connect it to the web propelling roller, a second pulley driven in timed relation with the machine, a belt operably connecting the pulleys, first means tovary the engaging pressure of the clutch, a floating roller carried on a movable member and supported by the web between the web propelling roller and the turning device, and second means connecting the movable member with the rst means, whereby variation in the tension of the web at the turning device will vary the driving force imposed on the web propelling roller.

24. In a web printing machine having a web turning device arranged to turn a web during its travel through the machine to position its under side uppermost, a web propelling roller having a driving pulley and :positioned to feed the web toward the turning device, a second pulley driven in timed relation with the machine, a belt operably connecting the pulleys, a floating roller carried on a movable member and supported by the web 'between the web propelling roller and the turning device, and a belt tightening device associated with the movable member and arranged to vary the pressure of the belt on the pulleys, whereby variation in the tension of the web at the turning device will vary the driving force imposed on the web propelling roller.

25. In a web printing machine having a web turning device arranged to reverse a web during `its travel through the machine, a first web propelling roller from which the web is led to the turning device, a second web propelling roller to which the web is led from the turning device, means for driving the propelling rollers, and means for adjusting the driving means, whereby the first propelling roller will ifmpose a greater pull on the web than the second propelling roller and the tension of the web between the propelling rollers will be lower than elsewhere in the machine.

26. In a web printing machine having a first printing unit arranged to print upon one side of the web, a seco-nd printing unit arranged to print upon the opposite side of the web, a web forwarding roller between the printing units, an adjustable driving device for the web forwarding roller to drive it at a speed potentially different from the speed of the web, a oating roller rotatably held in a movable member and running in a loop in the web, and means connecting the movable member with the adjustable speed driving device, whereby variation in the tension of the web at the floating roller will control the speed of the web forwarding roller.

27. In a web printing machine having a printing unit, a folder, a, web slitting and a web turning means between the printing unit and the folder to slit the web into two ribbons and turn one ribbon to superimpose it over the other ribbon, a driven drag roller to forward both ribbons to the folder, a variably driven forwarding roller between the turning means and the drag roller, and means for adjusting the driving torque imposed on the forwarding roller to regulate the pulling force applied to the turned ribbon being propelled toward the drag roller.

28. In a web printing rmachine a plurality of printing units, a folder, means for leading a web from each printing unit to the folder, a web slitting and a web turning means between each printing unit and the folder, to slit each web into ribbons and turn a first ribbon to Superimpose it over a second ribbon, a variably driven forwarding roller in the path of each first ribbon to apply a pulling force thereon to propel it to-ward a driven drag roller acting on all of the ribbons, and means for adjusting the driving torque imposed on each forwarding roller.

29. In a web printing machine having a printing unit, a folder, a 'web slitting and a web turning means between the printing unit and the folder to slit the web into two ribbons and turn one ribbon to superimpose it over the other ribbon, a driven drag roller to forward both ribbons to the folder, a variably driven forwarding roller between the turning means and the drag roller, and means operable while the machine is running, for adjusting the driving torque imposed on the forwarding roller to regulate the pulling force applied to the turned ribbon being propelled toward the drag roller.

30. In a web printing machine a plurality of printing units, a folder, means for leading a web from each printing unit to the folder, a web slitting and a web turning means between each printing unit and the folder, to slit each web into ribbons and turn a first ribbon to superimpose it over a second ribbon, a variably driven forwarding roller in the path of each first ribbon to apply a pulling force thereon to propel it toward a driven drag roller acting on all of the ribbons, and means operable while the machine is running, for adjusting the driving torque imposed on each forwarding roller.

WILLIAM F'. HUCK. 

